Chapter 7 - REVENGE HAS A NAME
Ethan Vale had spent fourteen months blaming Titan for destroying his life.
That was what Detective Lena Ortiz discovered within hours.
Vale had been transporting illegally captured venomous reptiles across state lines.
Titan had alerted on his van during a traffic stop three years earlier.
Officers searched the vehicle.
They found narcotics.
Then hidden beneath false flooring, they found reptiles.
Rattlesnakes.
Gila monsters.
Exotic vipers.
Several animals died during transport.
Vale lost his license, his company, and eventually his marriage.
Then he started sending complaints.
Against the department.
Against me.
Against Titan.
I had never seen most of them.
Ortiz spread printed pages across a conference table.
“He called your dog an uncontrolled weapon.”
I read one line.
K9 TITAN SHOULD BE DESTROYED BEFORE HE KILLS SOMEONE.
My skin crawled.
“That was written ten months ago.”
Ortiz nodded.
“He also posted your outreach schedule online twice.”
Harris stood at the window.
“So Vale knew Titan would be in Centennial Park.”
“Likely.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“What was he trying to do? Get Titan bitten?”
Ortiz shook her head.
“I think he wanted Titan to react.”
I understood immediately.
“He releases a snake near kids.”
“Titan detects it.”
“Titan runs toward them.”
“And someone records what looks like an attack.”
Harris turned.
“Then Vale gets the story he wanted.”
I looked at the viral clip again.
The person filming had started recording before Titan broke from me.
That bothered me.
“Who filmed the original video?”
Ortiz looked up.
“Anonymous account.”
“Find it.”
“We’re working on it.”
“Because if Vale planned this…”
“He may have planned the camera too.”
The room went quiet.
Marcus cursed under his breath.
My phone vibrated.
Rachel.
I answered.
“Hey.”
“Jack.”
Her voice sounded wrong.
“What happened?”
“Someone was outside the house.”
I stood instantly.
“When?”
“Five minutes ago.”
“Are you inside?”
“Yes.”
“Doors locked?”
“Yes.”
“Caleb?”
“With me.”
“What did the person look like?”
“I don’t know. Dark jacket. Baseball cap.”
“Did he say anything?”
“No.”
“What was he doing?”
Rachel hesitated.
“He left something on the porch.”
“Don’t touch it.”
“I didn’t.”
Harris was already signaling to Ortiz.
“What is it?” I asked.
Rachel’s breathing became uneven.
“A box.”
My blood turned cold.
“What kind of box?”
“Clear plastic.”
I stopped breathing for a second.
“Rachel, get away from the front door.”
“Jack—”
“Go upstairs. Take Caleb. Lock the bedroom door.”
“What’s in the box?”
“I don’t know.”
“Jack.”
“Do it.”
We were already running from the conference room.
Harris called dispatch.
Ortiz called the bomb squad and animal control.
I sprinted toward my vehicle.
My phone stayed pressed to my ear.
Rachel whispered, “I can see the box from upstairs.”
“Do not go near the window.”
“There’s something inside.”
My hand froze on the car door.
“What?”
She began crying.
May you like
“It’s moving.”
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